Sluicing v Detecting

[Moreorless]

Hi all, I am trying to come to a decision, first off I am all set on buying my Minelab detector and I am sure that it will be great for finding gold, but after reading a lot of your posts, there seems to be much discussion on sluicing for gold.

My question is do many of you have a preference for which tool to use or do you equally share sluicing/detecting and also which do you think yields more gold results?

Any knowledge on this is most appreciated

 

[jamie]

i started out in this great hobby as a detector swinger, had an interest in sluicing but hadn't done it until i joined this forum, now its an obsession, i have found more gold sluicing than with my detector but i love both, i use my detector on beaches around home and sluice when i get away cause where i go the gold is to small to be found with my garrett infinium (not that i find heaps in my sluice anyway lol), doesn't stop me still waving it around those spots tho just in case, so i guess i share practices but pick which suits the needs the best at the time.
Hope it helps

 

[Goldtarget]

I think alot will depend on the area you are in. Wet prospecting has a much greater chance of getting a result, all the times I've been out only very few have not shown something, and usually because that is well outside a proven area or based on rumor. Sometimes it's a little sometimes a lot, but nearly always some color. Detecting is definitely going to be the way to go if your seeking bigger gold, the natural disadvantage is the difficulty involved. I can honestly say if I go wet prospecting I will recover something no matter how many have gone before me, and that is the reason I kit myself up and pursue that means. There's certainly not that sort of assurance detecting.

The best prospectors I know still get gold returns year on year that are no joke. Some of them don't use a detector. Other detectorists I know can find more in a day than i can in a year, but its specialized. Every method of prospecting has its pros and cons but being well rounded is definitely an advantage. Like every pursuit time and patience will reward you.

 

[Brumble-Gum]

Hot or wet weather = Sluicing. You always get some sort of gold when sluicing if even a little.
Cooler or drought weather = Detecting. You are not guaranteed any gold for days, however if you do its good gold.

 

[Moreorless]

Wow there some thought in all that, basically what you are saying is that if I went to a known gold yielding river I am sure to find even a little colour but with the detector it is more hide and seek and lots of leg work. More instant money in detecting but more guaranteed gold results in sluicing. Thanks guys

 

[Ag Man]

I like the wet prospecting(sluice, HB, panning) side of things.
Much cheaper to get set up & not too difficult to get results.

Mainly because it's more social for me.
No headphones & concentrating on sounds etc.
Several of my friends have tried detecting & yes, you can get some cool gold & some awesome gold too, but most of the day you spend wandering around by yourself as others don't want you on "their patch"...
Sure at meal/drink breaks you socialize, but

I like to chat to mates whilst digging & also the area I'm from isn't known to be nuggety.

 

[Average Joe]

Both methods have their advantages. I use my detector 3-4 times a week mainly because it suits the area that im prospecting.
If the gold bug bights you hard enough you wont have to worry about which method yields more, you'll just start building one anyway.

 

[Oldfella]

Hi Moreorless,
I started out with a pan and various sluices that I had made and found gold on most outings, but when detectors became popular in the 80s, I focused on these and haven't looked back. I don't find gold with a detector every time I go out, but I have found a lot of gold over the years especially since buying my GPX5000 which has paid for itself 6 times over since I bought it several months ago

Cheers

 

[Moreorless]

Hi Moreorless,
I started out with a pan and various sluices that I had made and found gold on most outings, but when detectors became popular in the 80s, I focused on these and haven't looked back. I don't find gold with a detector every time I go out, but I have found a lot of gold over the years especially since buying my GPX5000 which has paid for itself 6 times over since I bought it several months ago

Cheers

Wow oldfella that is certaintly something to consider I am saving to buy the same machine but at $6500 its has to wait I am thinking of buying a sluice and doing that for a while until I get enough money for the detector, than attack the fields with both working as my husband is keen on detecting and I really want to use the sluice

 

[Oldfella]

It doesn't matter if you pan, sluice or detect, this is one of the most enjoyable and potentially rewarding hobbies that I know of. My Wife and I love the hunt and it doesn't really matter if we come home empty handed, we still love getting out into the bush and exploring new areas and occasionally meeting lovely like minded people on the way.

Best of luck.